Hydraulic control system for road working machines



Nov. 3, 1936. H. c. BUFFINGTON 2,059,205

HYDRAULIC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR ROAD WORKING MACHINES Filed June 1, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN N TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Nov. 3, 1936. H, C, BUFFlNGTQN 2,059,205

HYDRAULIC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR ROAD WORKING MACHINES Filed June l, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ...fpm-MM..

NOV- 3, 1936- H. c. BUFFINGTON 2,059,205

HYDRAULIC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR ROAD WORKING MACHINES Filed June l, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 BY" 6. MM

A TTORNEYS.

NOV- 3, 1936. H. c. BUFFINGTON 2,059,205

HYDRAULIC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR ROAD WORKING MACHINES Filed June l, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 BY" m m., @a

A TTORNEYS.

NOV- 3 193.6- H. c. BUFF'INGTQN 2,059,205

HYDRAULIC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR ROAD WORKING MACHINES Filed June 1, 1934 5 sheets-sheet 5 A T TORNEYS.

Patented Novi. 3, 1936 PATENT OFFICE HYDRAULIC CONTROL SYSTEM FDR ROAD WORKING MACHINES y Harry C. Huffington, Springfield, lll., assignor to Ill.

Baker Manufacturing Company, Springfield,

Application `June 1, 1934, Serial No. 728,535

2 Claims.

My invention relates to road working machines and more especially to machines for preparing the road surface on a dirt highway for traiic and suitable drainage; an object being in my invention to provide convenient, practical and an economical means of adjusting the machine frame to its various Working positions when in use operatively supporting such road surface working devices as gang cutters, Scrapers, and

the like.

A further object of my invention is to provide a dependable control system for the road Working machine frame` adjustmentswhich may be substantial in character and reliable for heavy Work as well as light work without the use of any'complicated mechanism when the road working machine is in operation.

A particular purpose of my invention is to provide a. hydraulic control system for the adjustment of the elevation ofthe front end of the machine frame and an adjustment in the desired working position of the rear end of the machine frame by the use of one or more hydraulic rams operating with the rear axle for optionally tiltingthe frame to one side or the other or lifting it to the desired position of elevation, and more particularly to provide for the rearvend of the frame the necessary hydraulic rams needed for such adjustments in cooperative combination withafcrank axle at the rear of the frame with preferably a split crank axle as the most effective type of rear axle to be used for accomplishing the purposes of my invention.

I attain the objects of my invention in the hydraulic control system described in this specication, recited in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like numbersvwill indicate like parts in the several 'gures Referring to the figures:

Figure 1 is a top or plan view of a road working machine incorporating in its construction the hydraulic control ysystem of my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the machine shown in Figure 1. f

Figure 3 is a perspective disclosing in comprehensive detail the operative'working relation of the hydraulic rams at the rear of the road working machine and the split crank axle preferably used as a novel feature of my invention.

Figure 4 is a detail in side elevation taken from 4-4 on Figure 1 and having a cut-away disclosing more comprehensive details of the working parts of the crank axle and hydraulic ram construction in their working relation.

Figure 5 is a perspective showing the split axle construction which permits one half of the crank axle to be adjusted to positions with predetermined limits independent of the adjustment of the other half.

Figure 6 is a vertical half-section of the front bolster construction having incorporated therein a hydraulic ram which is one of the features of my invention included in the hydraulic control system for the road Working machine.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view in perspective or bone-man illustration of the operating characteristics of my hydraulic control system in its` operative relation to a road working machine of the type illstrated in the drawings.

Figure 8 is a sectional view of. one of the gang cutters of the disc type disclosing the operative relation of the discs in the gang and the brackets and bearings by which they are supported under the road working machine frame.

Figure 9 is a detail disclosing in an elevation within the scope of my invention an adaptation of my hydraulic control idea wherein the hydraulic rams are adjustably connected directly with a pivoted rear axle and where the rear axle is slidably pivoted.

Figure 10 is a detail showing in side elevation the operating relation of the hydraulic rams shown in Figure 9 with a pivoted square axle as one oi the forms of the direct connection of such hydraulic rams with the rear axle oi a road machine incorporating my invention.

Figure 11 is a perspective of a portion of a split crank axle where only one hydraulic ram is used in its control.

Figure 12 is a rear end View of the crank axle 3 shown in Figure 11 and showing in a partial section a way the two parts of the r'ear axle may be adjustably secured together.

Figure 13 is a perspective disclosing in a partial cut-away the adjustable attaching plates by means vof which the two sections of the rear crank axle may be `detachably bolted together where a single hydraulic ram is used for controlling their adjustment.

Referring now to the operative details of my invention in their preferred construction and arrangement and to certain modications thereof Within the scope of my invention I shall set forth :in comprehensive detail the novel features thereof together with explanations of mechanical advantages which may be derived from the use of my invention in conjunction with road working machines or other machines to which my invention may be operatively adapted.

. 'In order to start out in a comprehensive analysis of the broad idea of my invention it is thought that, it will be well to ygive some preliminary consideration to the hydraulic control principles il"- lustrated in diagrammatic or bone-man` fashion'in Figure 7; wherein a hydraulic pump I operated by a mechanical or hand lever 2 and communicating through tubes 3, and 5 with a forward hydraulic ram 6 and a pair of rear hydraulic rams 1 and 8 may be made to optionally lift the front end lof a road Working machine lframe by the adjustment of a control valve 9 and may be made to hydraulically adjust the rear end of such a frame to desired working positions of elevation or tilt by controlling the operating combination' of hydraulic rams 1 and 8 with a crank axle which is preferably split at its middle point Il) where it is pivotally connected to permit one part II thereof and the other part I2 to be simultaneously lifted or lowered through levers I3 and I4 oroptionally adjusting either part II or part I2 one independent of the other when it may be desired to'tip the rear end of the frame of the machine to one side or the other when working roads. Wheels I5 and I6 on axle I1 represent the front support of the road Working machine while wheels I8 and I9 represent the 'rear support therefor.

It will thus be observed that a road working machine built to incorporate in its construction a principle of hydraulic control for its adjustments permitting the forward end of the machine to be lifted at will by operating pump lever 2 after setting valve 9 and permitting the rear end to be adjusted at will after setting valves 20 and 2I or by adjusting all three valves permitting a. simultaneous adjustment in the machine frame at both the front and rear end, will possess advantages that are novel, convenient, and highly practical.

In order therefore vto set forth in comprehensive detail an application of my invention in a practical road working machine which has been thoroughly tested for its efficiency in practical operation with my hydraulic control system I shall now describe some of the preferred mechanical adaptations of my invention in such machine. In one of the forms of road Working machines using the control system of my invention I provide a machine frame 22 portably supported by wheels I5, I6, I8 andIS while there is carried beneath the frame in this case a series of gang disc cutters 23, 24,-25, and 23 arranged in their support under frame 22 in a manner permitting them to be operatively adjusted in a position that will make those gangs when in operation effectively work the road surface on both sides ofthe road crown when allowing for suitable slope for drainage from the crown out to the roadside.

vThe disc gangs are pivotally mounted respectively at their inner ends on axes 21, 28, 29 and 30 which are supported in brackets 16 and the outer ends are adjustably supported in enlongated holes 13 of brackets 18 by bolts 3l, 32, 33 and 34. g

The adjustable mounting however for these disc-gangs is the subject matter of a separate and distinct patent application. In fact, my hydraulic control system will be equally effective in connection with road working machines carrying other road surface treating devices such as Scrapers, or sweepers and the like.

The road working machine which I 'am illustrating is` adapted to be pulled by a tractor or other practical power mechanism which would pull it by a coupling 35 operatively secured to the frame and front axle in this case by a bolt 36 while a front bolster 31 defining the forward end of the frame structure 22' is pivotally resting upon front axle I1 while at the same time the bolster construction housing a hydraulic ram is operatively adjustable in elevation with respect to the ground.

This vertical adjustment of frame 22 by manipulation of the fgcnt bolster 31 is accomplished .by hydraulic control as the operator seated on seat 38 works pump handle 2 of hydraulic pump I after adjusting hydraulic valve 3 which controls the outlet of hydraulic fluid from pump I as it runs forward to hydraulic ram t through tube 3 to enter the hydraulic ram cylinder 39 where this fluid 40 acting upon ram d with the hydraulic pressure causing frame 22 with bolster sleeve l to slidably mo'fe up on post t2 resting upon front axle bracket t3. Thus the front bolster structure connecting the frame 22 with front axle I1 .may be optionally controlled in its vertical adjustments by hydraulic means from the operatorfs seat 38. These vertical adjustments at the forward end of frame 22 may be necessary from time to time for the desired control of gang cutters 23, 24, 25, and 26.

I accomplish the desired vertical and tilting adjustments in the rear end of the Iframe 22 by means of a combination of one or more hydraulic ram units with ,a crank axle and for the sake of explaining the novel features of my invention as it is applied` to this rear end of the road working machine I have elected to show in the drawings a pair of spaced hydraulic ram members controllably connected with a crank axle and described in its operative arrangement with reference in this instance for explanation purposes to Figures 3, 4, and wherein the hydraulic pump I by the operators control of handle 2 and his adjustment of valves 2l) and 2i causes the hydraulic fluid to be carried to hydraulic ram cylinders 1 and 8 whenever it is desired to move plungers 35, 4S pivotally secured to lifting levers I3 and Id for the adjustment of the rear crank axle which is preferably a split axle made of two parts II and I2 respectively and adjustably pivoted together for simultaneous or separate adjustment at central position l0 where the adjacent ends of the crank axle members abut where the two parts may be bolted together by bolting plates 41 and 48 together through hole 49 extending through both plates.

Hydraulic ram cylinders 1 and 3 have their anchorage on frame 22 with pivoted base plates 5I) and 5I .respectively hinged to brackets 52 and 53; thus to permit the ram plungers d5 and i6 to work freely in various positions in their normal functions applying hydraulic power to the crank axle II-,I2. When this crank axle is to work as an assembled unit in adjusting the working elevationof frame 22 at the rear of the machine then plungers 45 and 46 work together in simultaneous action, but since parts II and I2 are split at the connection Ill the two parts may be adjusted separately by removing a bolt from hole 49 and permitting plates 41 and 43 to pivotally slide about an inner shaft 54 as shown in Figure 5.

When it is desired to tilt the rear end of frame 22 slightly to one side or the other such a requirement would be the occasion for a separate adjustment of sections II or I2 of the crank axle at the rear. For instance if it should be desired to lower frame 22 at the rear on the side of Wheel I9 when valve 20 would be adjusted to release a little of the iluid in hydraulic cylinder 1 permitting the weight of the frame resting upon section II of the crank axle to pivotally move the section downwardly and forwardly about shaft 54 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5 as far as the operator desired to let it settle. This adjustment of part II of the crank axle would pivotally separate plates 41 and 48 somewhat as shown in dotted lines in Figure 5 but during this operation section I2 of the crank axle may not be disturbed`in its position of elevation except the movement that may be required for holding its position in alignment with part II where' they are continuously pivotallyon a shaft 54.

In like manner part I2 may be adjusted up or down through the control action of the hydraulic ram which controls this part for the adjustment of the side of the frame 22 having its support bearing on part I 2. These two support bearings for frame 22 over the rear crank axle are designated by numerals 55 and 56 (see Figure 1).

It will thus be observed that I provide in the construction which incorporates the features of my invention a hydraulic control system which is practical in every way especially for road surfaces and the combination of the rear crank axle with the hydraulic ram controls therefor in conjunction with the split feature of the rear axle as proven' under tests to be highly eicient.

However, the scope of my hydraulic control system will not limit my roar axle construction to the form of a crank axle for the reason that it is conceivable that the same control system might connected well serve the purpose desired if applied 4by means of hydraulic rams arranged upon the rear axle 51 (see Figure 9), where hydraulic rams 58 and 59 pivotally connect to axle 51 upon pins 60 and 6I respectively at the bottom and pivotally connect to pins 62 and 63 respectively at the top thus establish operative connection between frame 22 and axle 51 permitting axle 51 to move up or down in its bracketed guides 64 and 65 as bearing pin 66 slides in guide 61; but where the outer ends of axle 51 may be respectively raised or lowered by hydraulic rams 58 or 59 alternately then pin 66 would merely serve as a pivoting point for the rear axle. I do not wish to confine the details of this assembly to the exact form shown in Figure 9 where brackets supports '68 and 69 are bridged over the top of rams 58 and 59 for it is conceivable that other arrangements for the support of hydraulic rams 58 and 59 may be made with good results. Tubes 10 and 1I establish the hydraulic fluidconnection with hydraulic pump Ifor the control of rams 58 and 59.

In Figure 8 it will be observed that I have shown a disc gang 23 in section supported by brackets 12 and 13`on bearings 14 and 15 and this gure illustrates one of the arrangements for spacing the cutters where spacers 16 are used. Supporting brackets 'I2 and 13 are supported on frame 22 and bracket 16 supports the pivoted end of frame 11 holding the disc gang while bracket 18 having a slotted hole 19 supports the adjustable end of frame 11` upon a bolt 3| (see Figure 1). This gang disc however` being the subject matter for a separate patent application'v is not claimed in its adjustable mounting in this application.

I have also chosen to disclose in Figures 11, 12,

draulic ram 80 controllably connected with the hydraulic pump and pivotally engaging a lever 8| through plunger 82 of the hydraulic ram, may adjust the elevation of a rear crank axle 83 which is made in two sections pivotally adjustable and detachable and bolted together by bolting connecting plates 84 and 85 together. Plate 84 and plate 85 are respectfully secured to the abutting crank axle members II and I2 and the relative rotated position of these plates would accordingly adjust the position of elevation crank axle members II and I2.

This control of the crank axle by a single hydraulic ram member is very practical for a lightweight road working machine and falls entirelyV within the scope of my invention to be included for protection in this application.

Having thus described the salient features of my hydraulic control system for road working machines and some of the mechanical adaptations thereof what I claim is:

1. In a road working machine provided with a frame and front and rear wheels for the support of means for working a road, a front bolster carried by the front wheels and provided with a hydraulic ram for lifting the frame on the bolster, a divided rear crank axle whose adjacent ends are abutting in longitudinal alignment and which are provided with adjustable holding plates for holding said members in selected positions of pivotal adjustment thereof, said rear crank ax1 members each provided with a hydraulic ram and a lever connected therewith establishing connection between said frame and said axle members .respectively for the pivotal adjustment of the axle members separately or multaneously for the relative operative adjustment for said frame supporting said road working mechanism, a hydraulic control system for the operative control of said hydraulic rams and the selective adjustment of said frame and road working mechanism connected therewith, and for the selective control of said hydraulic rams on each of said rear axle members and on said front bolster, and a hydraulic control pump communicatively connected with said plurality of control valves.

2. In a road working machine provided with a frame and front and rear wheels for the support of means for working a road, a front bolster carried by the front wheels and provided with a hydraulic ram for lifting the frame on the bolster, a divided rear crank axle supported by the rear wheels and holding plates supported by said crank axle members at the adjacent ends thereof for holding said ends of said axle members in longitudinal alignment and in relatively pivotal adjusment; said holding plates provided with means for holding said axle members each provided with a hydraulic ram and a lever connected therewith establishing vconnection between said frame and said axle members respectively for the pivotal adjustment of the axle members separately or simultaneously for the relative operative adjustment for said frame supporting said road working mechanism, a hydraulic control System for the operative control of said hydraulic rams and the selective adjustment of said frame and road working mechanism connected therewith, and for the selective, control of said hydraulic rams on each of said rear axle members and on said front bolster, and a hydraulic control pump communicatively connected with said plurality of said control valves.

HARRY C. BUFFINGTON. 

